Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)

General Admission

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) is offered by this department at two levels of admission: entry level D.P.T. and transitional D.P.T. The entry level degree program is for individuals who are not now practicing physical therapists but are interested in becoming physical therapists. The transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program is for individuals who are already licensed as a physical therapist in the United States or Canada and who wish to expand their knowledge and skills to be better prepared to work as a primary care provider and expert practitioner. These programs lead to the same degree but require different admissions criteria and the completion of different sets of core courses.

Entry-Level Program

Admission - Entry Level: A baccalaureate degree is not required for admission to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The requirements for consideration for admission vary, depending on whether the applicant will have an earned baccalaureate degree prior to enrollment but all applicants must meet requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Starting in 2015, the Graduate Record Examination will be required.

Applicants who will not have a baccalaureate degree upon enrollment in the physical therapy program must successfully complete

a minimum of ninety credits,

all University General Education Requirements,

all physical therapy science prerequisite courses,

all physical therapy non-science prerequisite courses, and

an upper-level concentration to be considered for admission.

Applicants who will have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to enrollment in the physical therapy program must complete all physical therapy science prerequisite courses and all physical therapy non-science prerequisite courses. Additional information on program-specific prerequisites can be found in the Physical Therapy section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Admission to the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) professional program occurs on an annual basis with Physical Therapy courses beginning in the Fall Term. There are a limited number of spaces in the Physical Therapy program and admission is competitive. Completion of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission.

Transitional Program

Admission to the transitional program requires that the applicant be a physical therapist who has graduated from an accredited Baccalaureate or Master's Physical Therapy Program and is currently licensed in the United States or Canada. Letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required.

Degree Requirements - Entry-Level Program

The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree requires a minimum of 123 credits, including all courses in the core curriculum listed below.

Consistent with Graduate School policy, the grading system for graduate students is 'intended to reflect a higher standard of critical and creative scholarship than those applied at the undergraduate level.' Continuing students are required to earn a minimum of a 3.00 g.p.a. to satisfy degree requirements. A graduate student who receives a 'C' grade in any course is expected to complete remedial work to demonstrate competency in the course requirements that may include repetition of the course the next time it is offered. Receiving more than two 'C' grades, or five grades below a B (3.0), in the curriculum is considered unsatisfactory progress and achievement, and will result in dismissal from the professional program. Students may also be dismissed from the program for unsatisfactory clinical performance or for unsatisfactory professional behavior.

All course work must be completed in accordance with the academic procedures of the Graduate School governing graduate scholarship and degrees and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. In addition, the criteria for academic performance given in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook should be followed. The Physical Therapy Student Handbook, provided by this program, also contains policy statements that may pertain to admission, candidacy, and degree requirements which students should consult.

The core curriculum is subject to change without prior notice in response to the changing health care environment and accreditation standards.

Degree Requirements - Transitional Program

Students in this program are required to complete eight core courses if the student already possesses a Master of Physical Therapy degree. For individuals not possessing a Master of Physical Therapy degree, the applicant’s educational and professional qualifications will be reviewed and an individual plan of work will be designed to provide sufficient preparation for the transitional D.P.T. curriculum.

The Physical Therapy Student Handbook, provided by this department, also contains policy statements that may pertain to admission, candidacy, and degree requirements. Students pursuing the D.P.T. should consult this handbook for the current statements on these policies.

The core curriculum is subject to change without prior notice in response to the changing health care and educations environment.

Health and Liability Insurance

Clinical Education is provided throughout the professional program along with didactic courses. The final twenty-eight weeks of the program are spent in two assignments in selected clinical facilities throughout the metropolitan Detroit area, Michigan and other parts of the country. Patient care involves inherent risk of exposure to potential diseases, particularly blood borne pathogens, and the risk of possible mishaps in patient care. Therefore, all students are required to maintain health insurance coverage and this must be in effect prior to and during the professional program. Liability insurance is rolled into course fees associated with clinical education.The student is responsible for the cost of health insurance and all other costs (such as travel, meals, living expenses) associated with the clinical education portion of the program.